THE number of children in temporary accommodation has hit a record high and "soaring" numbers of people are seeking emergency crisis grants, official figures show.

More than 7250 youngsters were living in B&Bs and similar housing in September 2019.

This compares with fewer than 2400 in 2002, when the figure was at its lowest and charity Shelter Scotland says people are being failed "on an industrial scale".

The official figures, which cover the period from April 1 to September 30 last year, are based on data from local authorities and show almost 18,650 applications for homelessness help were made over those 26 weeks.

Glasgow City Council experienced the greatest increase in demand, with an 11% rise to nearly 5900 applications, while a 24% decrease reduced requests in Perth and Kinross to around 1000.

Overall, close to 11,430 households were in temporary residences at the end of the reporting period as a result of a 4% uplift.

As many as 3600 of these included children or pregnant women.

Meanwhile, 12 different councils reported breaching of a 2019 law supposed to ensure such households are not kept in unsuitable accommodation for more than seven days.

Of the 190 total breaches, 125 happened in Edinburgh.

Additionally, more than 18,150 requests for help were unlawfully refused, with 80% of these happening in Glasgow.

Graeme Brown of Shelter Scotland said: “These statistics lay bare the reality of our housing emergency. More children in temporary accommodation than we’ve seen in the last 17 years and many households turned away altogether.

“While it’s good that Edinburgh is now being transparent these figures show the council has not been meeting its statutory duties, a situation which we have already highlighted in Glasgow.

“The sheer numbers of occasions when people are being turned away to fend for themselves is scandalous. Who knows what happens to these people when they leave the council offices? Councils can’t pick and choose which laws they adhere to.”

The figures come ahead of the February publication of the deaths of homeless people. The figures will be the first such record produced in Scotland.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said the Scottish Government is working with councils and other partners to "transform" homelessness services.

However, he said: "I recognise we must go further to achieve this for everyone.

"That is why the Scottish Government has invested £32.5m into Rapid Rehousing and Housing First to prioritise permanent, settled accommodation, as the first response to minimise the length of time people spend in temporary accommodation.

"In the first year of our £50m Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan, we have progressed 39 out of 49 measures with plans to start the remaining 10 this year."

Meanwhile, separate figures published by the Scottish Government yesterday show requests for crisis grants from the Scottish Welfare Fund have risen by 16% in one year to more than 51,700.

Of these, half gave "benefit/income spent" as the reason behind the approach.

Mhoraig Green of Citizens Advice Scotland said the figures reveal a "crisis of income". She stated: “The soaring numbers of people turning to the Scottish Welfare Fund for help should absolutely shock Scotland.

“Today’s figures show that more needs to be done to tackle the causes of income crisis, particularly reducing the five-week wait for Universal Credit payments and high deductions to repay debt that leave people without enough to live on.We’re also calling on the UK Government to ensure that working people on Universal Credit get to keep more of what they earn.

“People who are struggling should know that their local Citizens Advice Bureau can check to ensure they are getting all the benefits they are entitled to, and if they could be paying lower bills for utilities and council tax.”